Great Headwaters Trails spokesperson Jeff Currie says in February they talked with area businesses in the process of applying for state grant to fund trail construction. From those meetings the idea for the wristband took hold...

".....having a bike band and people would buy it for a nominal price. And when they wore it to businesses that wanted to participate in the program, they would get whatever special offer the business would like to offer....."

Currie....sporting his wristband....says it gives the biking community in Vilas county a profile with local businesses...

".....two reasons to do this, first of all, is to give businesses free advertising and for the businesses to see , 'hey, there's some people who like the idea of bicycling coming into their businesses to spend money....."

Currie says so far 23 businesses in Eagle River, Conover, Sayner/Star Lake, St. Germain and Boulder Junction have signed up for the Vilas Bike Bands. More information on that program and Vilas county bike trails is on the Great Headwaters Trails website at GHTrails.com/bikebands or email at vilasbikebands @ gmail. com